Wegner Adapts to Shifting Media Landscape in 14 Years with Beef Council

After graduating from Palmer High School, Wegner embarked on a path that led him to pursue a double major in broadcast journalism and public relations at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. 

“I got to my senior year, and I was going to graduate with this degree. I was talking to my advisor, and I said, I don't know what I'm going to do because I thought that I wanted to go into radio,” Wegner said. “After doing some internships and things, I just couldn't find myself sitting in a room talking to myself all day.” 

Upon graduating, Wegner got into sales and marketing, eventually working at a startup marketing firm, that provided experience across various facets of marketing, from advertising to public relations. However, Wegner missed his connection to his roots in agriculture—something that led him to seize the opportunity at the Nebraska Beef Council in 2010. 

“When this opportunity at the Beef Council came up, I was like, man, that would be so awesome, because it's more of the background that I grew up in with farming and agriculture, and then using the experiences that I had at college and the marketing firm,” explained Wegner. 

For nearly 14 years, Adam has served as the catalyst of the Beef Council's marketing endeavors, creating strategies that promote the presence of beef across diverse platforms. From overseeing social media channels to creating advertising campaigns and tending to partnerships with retailers and foodservice operator, Adam's role has always been versatile. The evolution of digital media has been a staple of Adam's time at the Beef’s Council, witnessing the seismic shift from traditional to digital advertising. 

“The other thing that has changed quite a bit is the advertising perspective. When I first started it was traditional TV, radio print,” said Wegner. “Now most of our emphasis is on the digital side of things like connected TV, YouTube, or Google search.” 

Wegner also finds fulfillment in engaging directly with producers, consumers, and students, embodying the Beef Council's mission. 

Outside of his office, Adam enjoys moments spent with his family—his wife Stefani and their children, Lily and Hayes. Whether tending to the family farm or embarking on outdoor adventures, Adam finds joy keeping up with his growing kids and their activities.